One more look at Torres’s absence: What players had to say, why Kennedy doesn’t see himself in same role

One more look at the reaction to the news that Raffi Torres will be out a big chunk of the season after undergoing surgery to repair the torn ACL in his right knee, then we move on.

After the Sharks were bounced from the playoffs last May, it was clear to me that Torres was the coveted “difference-maker” that every team wants, in a good way. Sure, there were other factors involved in the Sharks turnaround – Brent Burns becoming a forward, addition by subtraction.

But at the top of my list was the arrival of Torres.

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****Yesterday, I asked Dan Boyle if those of us on the outside may have overstated the importance Torres played in the team’s transformation.

“No,” was Boyle’s immediate response. “He was a very big part of the change here. Everything kind of happened at the same time with the trades and him coming in and Burnzie going up front. I don’t think it’s overstated. I think it’s deserved.”

As far as the impact of Torres’s absence, here’s what Boyle had to say:

“It’s a spot for somebody to pick up the slack,” he said. “Injuries are a part of the game, and life goes on. Hopefully, Raffi will be back at some point.

“That’s sports, that’s hockey,” Boyle continued. “That’s part of it and that’s why organizations have minor league systems, players ready to step up.”

****I also asked Logan Couture if Torres’s playing style was contagious, if it rubbed off on the rest of the Sharks – including Couture. Did his game pick up?

“I think so,” Couture said. “When the team plays better, I think everyone individually plays better as well. I think everyone stepped up and played a little bit better.

“We changed our style of play a little bit, got little bit quicker — north, south more — and we’re going to have to continue to play that way, with or without Raffi,” he added. “That’s the way the league is these days.”

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****The Sharks acquired Tyler Kennedy in the off-season and there are elements of his game – speed, willingness to crash the net – that overlap with Torres’s. It’s part of the reason GM Doug Wilson wanted Kennedy in teal.

So does Kennedy see himself in that same mold? Does he feel any pressure to assume the role Torres had here?

“Raffi’s a great player. He plays hard and he really takes it to the other team,” Kennedy said earlier this week. “I try to do that, too, but I think we’re just different players. He brings a different element than I do.”

One difference: Hits. Kennedy had 41 in 46 games with Pittsburgh while Torres had 87 in 39 games with San Jose and Phoenix.

****As is often the case, I wrote more words than the space allocated in the print edition this morning. My bad.

What happened though, was a McLellan quote that was cut off before the coach finished making his point. That same quote was in the previous posting here, but I’ll repeat it again for those who may have been wondering where McLellan was going with his thought:

“There will be 29 other teams this year that go through it. They’re going to lose key people and they’re going to find ways to recover. We want to be ahead of the curve and do a better job than they do.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

This is no longer a blog. It’s an informal column with a few comments. Go back to the old system that inspired a lot of spirited dialog and was fun to read.

hockeyhappens

Can’t agree here. For many reasons. But, give it some time. People will still make outrageous statements and stick to their own ideas about the Sharks and hockey.

hockeyhappens

You passed the test JP.

As much as I work with tech, I waded into the water gingerly myself. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

jborchel

We’ll see.

Buddy Elf

While it seems like the volume of commenters has gone down, it really hasn’t. The increased steps to create multiple profiles, over the last system, leads to less sockpuppets.

There has been plenty of spirited dialogue already.. the main “issue” is that DP is makin up for lost time and banging these updates out multiple times a day (because of the time of year it is, and i’m definitely not complaining just stating the fact). With each new post, that reduces the comments on each previous post.

Once DP settles into the routine of the season, the posts will come less often allowing for more discussion on each post, and I am sure there will be plenty of drama this season… especially when the Sharks lose.

Angel From Texas

Can’t wait to see Kennedy lighting it up!

Sharkz

Sounds like we should write of the season.

Herf

The season hasn’t even started yet. Give it a chance.

Wilma Mermelstein

Ditto – I keep wondering where all the fans are.

puckace

Amazing how low many of the comments around the web have been regarding Torres injury. I get that people don’t like the guy, but to hope for even worse to happen to him is just sickening. I am sorry to see him out. I wanted to see what the Sharks would look like with him in the lineup to start the season. Get well soon Raffi.

Wilma Mermelstein

Buddy – I hope you are right.

stevedrummer

Even though I wasn’t part of the back and forth – some of it was fun to read. Where are all the personalities – maybe waiting for the real season.

RicciRocks

Hoping Torres can come back soon enough to make a difference by the end of the season. I worry about the Sharks getting taken a little advantage of by tough, physical teams…we’ll see

Buddy Elf

Yah, I do not understand the enjoyment people have about the injury, even the “a-ok” attitude, and those hoping for even worse injuries. Makes no sense to me.

Dirty

Wait for the regular season. Trust me. Come with me if you want to live.

Dirty

What ever you do, don’t push that big red button!

Also, I feel that Snow Shovel is reading this and needs to get active again.

RicciRocks

Will be interesting to see where this team is towards the end of the season. Are Torres and Havlat healthy enough to make a contribution? If so with Kennedy getting experience as a Shark + Hertl/Niemo getting experience they could be three good lines deep. They just need to be in decent position heading into the 3/4 pole.

Thorton, Boyle, Marleau free agents heading into next year. If we lose have to lose one or more I’d start with Big Joe as much as he has meant to the Sharks; time to start with a new, younger core. Next would be Boyle…

Gdub44

So… Supposedly no cuts today. However, Bob McKenzie is reporting Pelech, McCarthy, and Kearns on waivers this morning.

hockeyhappens

Looks to be true per TSN.

I think all these guys have time and age and games enough where they qualify, that is, they need to clear waiver to be assigned to another club — Wooster.

FireTheGM

Pelch, McCarthy and Kearns placed on waivers today

Gdub44

But those would appear to be Shark cuts eh?

Snow Shovel

Dirty – just checked in after a week away. Things were happening. Good to see you.
Loved watching the two games against Van on tv. Really enjoyed seeing Van get whipped twice!
So, Van trades one obnoxious pain-in-the-butt coach for another obnoxious pain-in-the-butt-coach.
Ok, this is my first time with this new system, so be gentle with me. If JP can do it, then I can do it! Where are the smileys???

I don’t see any of these guys that DW wants to lose as assets, especially McCarthy. But, you can’t send these guys to Woosta unless they go through the wire.

I don’t want to see McCarthy picked up by anyone else and there is no where to put him in SJ. Especially since Nieto, Hamilton and Hertl have looked really good.

Buddy Elf

To make good paragraphs,
Just hit enter twice,
Then the next post you make,
Will turn out very nice.

Alex

It has been a very long break. Finally it ends tomorrow. Nice to have a full 82-game season this time around.

Johnny San Jose

Hello all… I’m looking forward to the season beginning and the emotional ups and downs of the posters within the comments section, here. Just remember folks, it’s a long season. Every team will suffer injuries. Every team will have slumps and crazy winning streaks. Most bad calls will even out. Marleau will still be one of the best all-around forwards in the game. Little Logan(TM) will continue to put up numbers and Tyler Kennedy is NOT the team’s savior. The savior for this team is limiting minutes of the older, top players so during crunch-time, at the end of the game, there is still gas left in the tank.
Here’s to a good season ahead with a deep playoff run (hopefully)!

Nathan_aka_TheRealTeal

Testing also, not sure when my new avatar will pop up, but good luck Sharks. They are not flying under the radar this year, but hopefully they overcome that.